You will need a passport to cross the border. No passport = no Canada. Plus no guns allowed.

Do we allow them to bring guns to US?

no need we usually find when we go down to the US there are enough guns for everyone

Yes. I see your logic but it's faulty. If you are coming without guns then that means you don't have guns. If you don't have guns you're probably a criminal in search of them. If you're not a criminal then you'll need to get guns otherwise the criminals will have them and you won't. That puts you at risk and those around you. Therefore as a public service you should bring guns.

Now, maybe you're opposed or unskilled in owning them? Not a problem. In that case we'll just charge a small fee to cover your protection and use the money to acquire the guns you failed to bring. Once you leave we'll keep them to protect ourselves from more people who show up without guns or use the new ones to replace old ones. Safety first.

Yes. I see your logic but it's faulty. If you are coming without guns then that means you don't have guns. If you don't have guns you're probably a criminal in search of them. If you're not a criminal then you'll need to get guns otherwise the criminals will have them and you won't. That puts you at risk and those around you. Therefore as a public service you should bring guns.

Now, maybe you're opposed or unskilled in owning them? Not a problem. In that case we'll just charge a small fee to cover your protection and use the money to acquire the guns you failed to bring. Once you leave we'll keep them to protect ourselves from more people who show up without guns or use the new ones to replace old ones. Safety first.

I'm on the fence about making my way to Whistler tomorrow night for skiing on Sat/Sun, and I would love to hear from the local resident/skiers' perspective on this. Thank you

Pros:
- It's so close. I'll be in WA on Fri.
- Got MC discount / don't plant on having MC again next year
- Most of my trip is largely paid for as it's a work/pleasure combo trip

Cons:
- Precipitation in the forecast: difficult drive-up and poor visibility on the slopes once I get there. Don't know what to expect.
- last weekend before W closes -- wonder how crowded it will be
- No cost effective lodging available and no cancellation..

there will be no crowds, it's April. Telus festival and Easter long weekend might make getting a cheap room more difficult but there are lots of them. Many things happening in the village for entertainment. Friday is forecast to be the best day -possibly partly sunny and will be a fair amount of new snow but rest of weekend is iffy. Then there will be fresh snow in the Alpine but it is also likely that things might get socked in. Lower part of hill (last 2000 vertical) will be only be a ski out Demo tents up until Sunday if your interested. Tough call. Whistler will not be at it's best but when are you this way again?

Baker is very under rated in your poll... Probably related to travel time from Seattle and size... the 1000 skiable acres is inbounds. The beauty of Baker is beyond the ropes. Bachelor is easily at the Bottom of my list, though Bend is a great place for sure.

Hood is home and I'm grateful to have it, nice place and people, but I would not rate it high. Due to the geography it has necessarily short runs and many times even that is shortened, and right after snow storms, due to the exposed nature of the top lifts.

Hoods base lodge is 5,300 though and unlike Timberline, most of the runs are above the base lodge. The 4500 listed above is for the one lower lot lift, HRM. 1,000 feet altitude makes a big difference especially in the PNW where we live life on the edge as far as snow/rain.

It's a matter of personal taste. I've been to all of these places and I would rank the Washington areas ahead of the Oregon ones mostly for terrain. I like variety and volcanoes don't seem to have it for me. Whistler would be on top because of the amount of terrain, but if you include OB, Baker might trump them all. YMMV

Just adding a couple of things to this. Whistler Blackcomb is awesome, there's no where like them if you get there and they have snow.. They have snow so go.

Gas in the US is much much cheaper, http://www.bcgasprices.com/Squamish/index.aspx ,right now Squamish is 1.44 a liter (3.8 liters to a gallon) or 1.44 X 3.8 = $5.47 a gallon. $20.00 to 30.00 more a tank makes it worth getting in the US.

My brother lives in Victoria and 9 times out of 10 makes the trip across to ski Whistler Blackcomb over going to the Mt Washington for one reason, Whistler Blackcomb is tops.

I avoided Whistler Blackcomb for years while my children grew up out fears of the lines and price... It was a dumb mistake. I've never hit unreasonable lines going non Christmas or March break and I've gone the last three years in early February and April and had 8 to 12" of fresh every time and it was open to the village. I realize this isn't the case always but check the conditions and go.

I'm at snowbird right now but I am missing my annual trip with my brother who's been at Whistler for the past week. He says it's been great but I admit, if we can turn our skis on snow we usually think it's pretty great. Hope you have a great time.